Rating: ****

Label: Murmur/Sony

Promise of a quieter, more experimental follow up to Something For Kate's largely live-sounding debut gave rise to fears of a spirit self-restricted by post-rock noodling and a wilful turning away from the big sounds which still define viable rock bands in Australia. It may not sound like it from first single "Electricity," but the promise is fulfiled here, and the fears dispelled.

Songwriter Paul Dempsey is less apt to dive for full blown distortion or power of rock riffs, but that doesn't mean he's tamed the tone down. He's still letting loose with a voice that refuses restraint, still providing the 'confessional in flames' which turned heads in the first place. It's just that from the first lines of stunning, understated opener "Whatever You Want" ("Picked the wrong time to be looking up at the night," sings Dempsey with a lilt rather than any kind of foreboding, "popular belief came down and destroyed his house and claimed his sight") there's a feeling that this is less about power unleashed, more about power controlled with an emphasis on vulnerability and even simple beauty.

Dempsey remains a guitarist - preferring to push that instrument as far as he can, rather than write in new sounds. But there are additions here, the anthemic instincts of the title track tempered by a crackling drum loop and persistent understatement, the female backing vocals a welcome colour to what can be a boyish tone, the keyboard parts under the mix but still an important new texture. Outside that, it's a logical step from Elsewhere in 8 Minutes, progressive Australian guitar music with heart and smarts. It's not quite radio friendly pop, but as a more serious companion to the Australian rock talents of labelmates Jebediah, this could well become the definition of late '90s guitar music.

Simon Wooldridge